He Giveth… and Giveth Again
Oh — sweet goodness — that follows us all the days of our lives. Yesterday, we took off — literally! We traded the Texas heat for the crisp, cool air of Crested Butte, Colorado. It started with a simple question from Carl’s daughter (my bonus daughter): “Want to do something different for Father’s Day?” Yes,…
Worship Begins with Our Bodies
I’m singing to the choir – but sometimes reminders help us go the distance! If we’re ready to see change in our finances, emotions, relationships — or just in our overall presence — Paul the Apostle has a surprising place to start – with our body. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and…
Mercy: Our Best Move Today
Maybe I’m dating myself, but do you remember vinyl records? When scratched, they’d skip and replay the same lyric over and over. That’s me when it comes to mercy—I might sound like a broken record, but it’s a message worth repeating. Last Sunday at church, we sang the old hymn again:“Mercy there was great and…
The Competitive Edge
I come from a long line of go-getters… and yet, I was the kid hiding behind my mama’s coat-tails. I wasn’t loud, didn’t play sports, and wouldn’t dare raise my hand unless I was really sure of the answer. But somehow, God gave me a family full of people who don’t just show up to…
Got Credentials? You Bet You Do.
Some folks have impressive credentials—titles like Dr., Rev., or Esq.—attached to their name. Those designations usually come after years of study, sacrifice, and a mountain of coffee. My pastor, for example, recently earned his doctorate and humbly says, “You don’t have to call me Dr. Spencer.” But oh, he earned it — and we’re proud…
Welcome to My Safe Place
My Safe Place is smack dab in the green pastures where God always soothes my soul and gives me daily ideas for yet another blog. Most days, folks read the words, smile (hopefully), and carry on with their day. Occasionally, I get a “like” or a heart and let me tell you — those little…
Evicting the Worry Wart
I don’t usually invite worry over for coffee. I’m more of a “blue skies ahead, God’s got this” kind of gal. But every now and then, that pesky Worry Wart sneaks in like it owns the place. It doesn’t knock. It doesn’t ask permission. It just plops itself down, right next to my peace, and…
Let There Be Light
Here’s the truth about darkness. Darkness is absent of light. And what about dark thoughts? Think about it. The more we dwell on our negative feelings or confront someone that is negative, the darker it becomes. The more we watch political news, and listen to the he said/she said stuff, and the backbiting between opposing…
When “Suddenly” Strikes
There we were — taco in one hand, enchilada in the other –celebrating my bonus daughter Amelia’s birthday at El Alma’s in Austin. The conversation was as rich as the queso, especially as we praised Amelia, who is a beloved middle school social worker with a superpower: making people feel seen, safe, and strong. She’s…
A Penny for Your Trust
I bent down to pick up a penny in the parking lot the other day. Carl wondered why I did. Because I saw it — those four powerful words engraved in faded copper: “In God We Trust”. And suddenly, that scuffed-up coin wasn’t just a penny. It was a proclamation. A pocket-sized sermon. A reminder…